As I sit here at my favorite local restaurant, I am reminded how nice it is to live in a place where I can order what I want and the servers never argue with me. This might seem odd in a country where “have it your way” is a major marketing slogan, but after two months in Berlin, Germany, I realize we are truly lucky.

The German people tend to be very rigid and that carries over to the food service industry. Hubby noticed it first.

Some time ago I was in another city and a friend offered to fly me home in his little two-seater airplane. On the way he suddenly realized we had gotten off course and were lost. We couldn’t see any landmarks to guide us, the ground below was rough and there was no place to land. My friend was concerned we could run out of gas. There was no radio in the plane to check our course. For a time, life for us was a very uncomfortable experience.

On Monday, Nov. 17, the snow brought down limbs from one of our trees and blocked Barkwood Dr. A neighbor called the Oldham County Road Dept. and a crew came right out and pushed the limbs out of the road. On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the road crew came out and removed the limbs from our yard. Here’s a big thank you to the road crews for your great service.

Over the last two weeks I have shared some basic information about why I think the Bible is a reliable and authoritative word from God. The following story illustrates vividly that God uses His word to change lives. The following is taken from a letter written by Mils and Sandy Becker in 1995.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and in recent years the spotlight has been on Type 2 Diabetes and its precursor – known as prediabetes. Both conditions have been increasing at startling rates in the adult population.

New statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 86 million people in the U.S. have prediabetes, up from 79 million people in 2010. The number of type 2 diabetes cases also continues to grow, fueled in part by a continued rise in the rate of obesity.

Every day I get older, but am I really wiser? I think most of us carry on being just as clueless, still making plenty of mistakes. It’s just that we make new ones and different ones. We do learn from experience and may not make the same mistakes again, but there is a whole new world of fresh ones just lying in wait for us to mess up and fall into. The secret is to accept this and not to beat yourself up when you do mess things up. Be forgiving and accept that it’s all part of that growing older but no wiser routine.

Last week I gave a very brief overview of where we got the Old Testament. There are just as many questions about the New Testament and just as many theories that seek to undermine the authority of the New Testament as a reliable witness to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and the emergence of the Christian Church.

I was in college getting ready to head to campus for finals when I got the phone call no military wife wants to get.

“There’s been an accident. Eight of our men are dead. Your husband could have been one of them.”

I waded through the rest of my day as if I were walking through quicksand. I took my finals, but have no idea what I answered. And I spent every break in between classes in the bathroom crying. I couldn’t even verbalize what was wrong to all those well-meaning friends who noticed my demeanor.

One of the joys of my life has been the opportunity to speak to various groups about “Positive Living,” “Inner Peace,” and similar topics. Along the way I have met some wonderfully generous individuals who shared articles, books and quotes they knew I would enjoy.

I recently received the 1947 classic Words To Live By. This book was published at a time when Americans were readjusting from wartime conditions to the uneasy terms of atomic peace.

Election day was a bit unsettling for me. As I stood in line at the polling place at North Oldham High School, I noticed that there was someone sitting between the two election workers writing in a spiral notebook and typing on an iPad. As I got a bit closer, it was apparent that this fellow was writing down the names of everyone who was voting. He would raise up and look at the identification card the voter produced and write down their name.

Perhaps you have seen it in a store or someone emailed it to you. I have a copy of the HillBilly Ten Commandments. We can all appreciate the simplicity they reveal. There are a number of versions, but mine go like this: 1) Just one God. 2) Put nothin’ before God. 3) Watch yer mouth. 4) Git yourself to Sunday meetin’. 5) Honor yer Ma and Pa. 6) No killin’. 7) No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal. 8) Don’t take what ain’t yers. 9) No tellin’ tales and gossipin’. 10) Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff.

We are entering a time of change here in Oldham County Schools. Our commitment to excellence and to ensuring the learning of every child remains constant, but who those children are continues to change.

This summer, I shared some of these changing demographics with principals to prepare for the school year. Many of us see these changes on a small scale — in our child’s school or in our neighborhood, perhaps — but never get to see the big picture.

What is going to happen in the future? A lot of people are wondering and a lot of people are afraid. I find many who are haunted by discouragement and despair. They see nothing good ahead. Many people see no reason to live, but one does not have to be the victim of tomorrow. I believe one can take a firm hold of the future and be the master of it.

Thanksgiving, one of the best truly American holidays, is fast approaching, with food, fellowship, family and fun. Food is the highlight followed by being thankful for all of our blessings. The typical Thanksgiving meal consists of turkey with dressing (stuffing), vegetables and pies. There are lots of instructions for cooking turkey so I won’t instruct you.

Every person who joins the service must take an oath to our Nation. Some are a little different if you’re an officer but all must take this oath “I (your name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. And that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”